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N.F.L. Announces 2008 Schedule

Games on two dates stood out Tuesday when the N.F.L. released its 2008 schedule.

On Sept. 14, in one of the league’s angrier rivalries, New England will be at the Meadowlands to play the Jets on the field where the Patriots were caught videotaping the defensive signals of Jets coaches. For vitriol, that may be the high point of the season.

Another day, Nov. 2, is a potential blockbuster, with four preseason Super Bowl favorites squaring off. That afternoon, the Giants will play host to the Cowboys, whom they beat in the playoffs on the way to the Super Bowl. At night, the Patriots will visit Indianapolis for the latest meeting of teams that battle annually for supremacy in the American Football Conference.

In a previously announced game, the Giants, as the defending champions, will open the regular season against the Redskins on Sept. 4 at Giants Stadium. They will also play a Monday night game in Cleveland on Oct. 13 and Sunday night games in Philadelphia (Nov. 9) and Dallas (Dec. 14).

The schedule includes other highlights:

¶In attempting to duplicate their perfect regular season, the Patriots have the weakest schedule based on their opponents’ combined 99-157 record in 2007. But they must make two back-to-back West Coast trips: against San Francisco (Oct. 5) and San Diego (Oct. 12), and against Seattle (Dec. 7) and Oakland (Dec. 14). Coach Bill Belichick will have to decide whether to have his team fly across the country twice within seven days to practice at home or to stay in the West between the games.

¶On paper, the Steelers will face the toughest schedule. Their opponents went 153-103 last season and include the Giants, the Colts, the Chargers, the Cowboys (all at home), and the Eagles and the Patriots (on the road). The Colts have the second-hardest strength of schedule, with their opponents finishing 152-104.

¶Green Bay’s post-Brett Favre era begins in prime time when the Packers welcome the Vikings in the season’s first Monday night game. The Broncos and the Raiders will play the late game that night.